Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder in Papua New Guinea

Date & Time: Apr 8, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-26 Marauder
Operator:
Registration:
40-1417
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1417
YOM:
1940
Location:
Papua New Guinea
All Papua New Guinea
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On a flight to Port Moresby, both engines failed. The crew attempted to make an emergency landing. While the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, all eight occupants were uninjured.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure due to fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder off Trobriand Islands: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 6, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-26 Marauder
Operator:
Registration:
40-1442
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
1442
YOM:
1940
Location:
Trobriand Islands (Kiriwina Islands)
Milne Bay
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While overflying the Solomon Sea, the aircraft was shot down by enemy fire and crashed few miles off Trobriand Islands. A crew member was killed while all seven other occupants were rescued.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina near Makapu'u: 9 killed

Date & Time: Apr 5, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
2487
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Kaneohe Bay - Kaneohe Bay
MSN:
390
YOM:
1941
Location:
Kaneohe Bay NAS
Hawaii
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
At the end of the day, the crew was returning to Kanehoe Bay NAS following a 12,3 hours maritime patrol mission off Hawaii. On approach, the visibility was low due to the night and poor weather conditions. As the captain thought by mistake he was approaching the Barber's Point Light where he was approaching the Makapu'u light located southernmost, he started the descent prematurely, causing the aircraft to hit the slope of a hill located near Makapu'u. All nine crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Error on part of the crew who mistook two different lights while approaching the Kaneohe Bay NAS. This misinterpretation engaged the aircraft in a premature descent and thus in an insufficient altitude. The lack of visibility caused by night and poor weather conditions, as well as a certain fatigue of the crew (duty above 12 hours) should be considered as a contributory factor.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I in Ludgvan

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden
Operator:
Registration:
AT118
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Skellingthorpe - Skellingthorpe
Location:
Ludgvan
Cornwall
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane was returning to base following a survey flight. It is believed that it suffered an engine failure and later crash landed near Ludgvan, bursting into flames. All crew members escaped uninjured.
Crew:
S/L F. R. Jeffs +3.
Probable cause:
Engine failure, maybe caused by a fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson V at RAF Donna Nook

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1942 at 2245 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
AM584
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Donna Nook - Donna Nook
MSN:
414-2666
YOM:
1941
Location:
Donna Nook AFB
Lincolnshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane was returning to base at RAF Donna Nook from a night patrol flight when it crashed upon landing following a too fast approach. Two crew members were injured.
Crew:
F/Sgt R. C. Kelly,
F/Sgt A. T. Thompson.

Crash of a Boeing B-17B Flying Fortress in Guatemala City

Date & Time: Mar 18, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
38-264
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
2023
YOM:
1938
Location:
Guatemala City-La Aurora
Guatemala
Country:
Guatemala
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Guatemala City Airport on a patrol mission. During the takeoff roll, the pilot failed to synchronize both engines n°2 and 4, causing the airplane to head across the grass towards the terminal. The B-17 hit a diagonal water run-off ditch that tore off the landing gear and caused the bomber to slide another 50 feet until it stopped. All nine crew members evacuated safely.
Crew:
Frederick E. Price.
Probable cause:
Loss of control after the pilot failed to synchronize engines n°2 and 4 during takeoff.

Crash of a Kawanishi H8K off Midway Island: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 10, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Kawanishi H8K
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Midway Island
United States Minor Outlying Islands
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The floatplane was shot down by a USMC Buffalo and crashed into the sea off Midway Island. The entire crew was killed. The exact number of crew number remains unknown.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a US fighter.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Tongue Point NAS: 8 killed

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
7299
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Tongue Point - Tongue Point
MSN:
0467
YOM:
1941
Location:
Tongue Point NAS (Astoria)
Oregon
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The floatplane water looped upon takeoff and crashed off Tongue Point NAS. A crew member was rescued and eight others were killed.

Crash of a Boeing Y1B-17 Flying Fortress off Hatteras: 8 killed

Date & Time: Mar 5, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
36-153
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Langley - Langley
MSN:
1977
YOM:
1936
Location:
Hatteras
North Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Langley AFB at 0730LT on a maritime patrol flight off the east US coast. After passing Cape Hatteras, the contact was lost and the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the ocean. No trace of the airplane nor the crew was ever found.
Crew.
Lt Col Edward Flanick, pilot,
2nd Lt James H. Miller, copilot,
2nd Lt Robert Lenwood Garrison, navigator,
Sgt Ellsworth William Aitken, flight engineer,
Pfc Robert R. McIntyre, assistant engineer,
Sgt Steven James Chohrach, radio operator,
Sgt Arthur L. Becker, assistant radio operator,
Cpl Draper Hoyt, bombardier.

Crash of a Supermarine Walrus I off Port Stanley

Date & Time: Mar 1, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Supermarine Walrus
Operator:
Registration:
W2738
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Port Stanley - Port Stanley
Location:
Port Stanley
All Falkland Islands
Country:
Falkland Islands
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The floatplane departed Port Stanley on a maritime patrol flight. Shortly after takeoff, it suffered an engine failure. The pilot attempted an emergency landing in the harbor of Port Stanley but the airplane bounced twice and eventually came to rest upside down. All occupants escaped uninjured.
Crew:
S/L S. T. David +3.
Probable cause:
Engine failure after takeoff.
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